TWO young riders from Ryedale enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime when they visited top British International event rider Oliver Townend at his competition yard in Shropshire.

Bethany Shipley, from Sheriff Hutton, and Jade Hutchinson-Archer, of Pickering, who are members of the Sinnington pony club, won their respective classes at the Oliver Townend Eventers’ Challenge national finals at Aintree, Liverpool.

Heavy snow meant they were unable to have a training session with Oliver, as had originally been planned. But they enjoyed a tour of the yard and met the 46 horses that are in residence there.

Fortunately, the girls still have the training session to look forward to as it has will now take place in the summer.